Shane Burrell | Editor
The 2018 Winter Olympic in PyeongChang is turning out to be more than just about competition this season.
The Olympics has proven there is more than just competition going on with figure skater Adam Rippon and bobsledder Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian.
Rippon, although being the first openly gay figure skater to compete in the Winter Olympics and coming out before winning an award, has spoken out for all individuals who aspire to reach his position.
Rippon has spoken out against Vice President Pence regarding his anti-LGBT rhetoric in the past and has said that he will make his presence known at the Winter Olympics as an openly gay figure skater to bring inspiration to all.
“I’ve gotten so many messages from young kids like all over the country, um that my story has resonated with them and it’s incredibly powerful like this platform that you can have at the Olympics games,” stated Rippon to CNN.
Although emotional while speaking, Rippon states he has worked very hard to compete in the Olympic games and his sexual orientation has not tailored his path to the Olympics but his determination to compete is what gave him his status.
Much like Rippon, Fenlator-Victorian has also made statements regarding hard work and being a role model for those who strive for someone like them at the Olympics.
Fenlator-Victorian, although is bobsledding for Jamaica’s first female team in the 2018 Winter Olympics is a duel citizen of the United States and Jamaica, also becomes emotional when speaking about being a role model for those who like her.
“It is for me that little girls, little girls and little boys see someone that looks like them, talks like them, has the same culture as them, has crazy curly hair and wears it natural, has brown skin, included in different things in this world,” stated Fenlator-Victorian.
She explains that when you are young and you don’t see people that look like you participating in events like the Winter Olympics, it makes the young girls and boys she speaks about feel defeated.
These two individuals, although are both Americans and are competing in the Winter Olympics, are showing the rest of the world they are standing up for those who need a role model that are similar to them despite the people that may stand against them.
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